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BOOK STATS & SUMMARY
STATS
| Title | From Scratch |
| Author | Tembi Locke |
| Book Club(s) | Reese’s Book Club #24 in April 2019 |
| Publication Date/Year | 2019 |
| Page Count | 339 |
| Genre(s) | Memoir, Nonfiction, Romance, Italy, Travel |
| Setting | Italy; United States |
| Goodreads Rating | 3.95 |
| Audience | Adult |
| Series | No |
| Translator | N/A |
| Awards | 0; 1 Nomination |
SUMMARY
From Scratch by Tembi Locke is a memoir about love, loss, and healing. It follows her relationship with Saro, a Sicilian chef she meets in Italy, their life together in the U.S., and her grief after his death from cancer. In the years following, Locke finds comfort and healing in Sicily with her daughter and mother-in-law, discovering the power of food, family, and belonging across cultures.
BOOK RATING & REVIEW
RATING
| BCR Rating | 5 |
| Availability | 4 |
| Format | 4 |
| Diversity | 5 |
| Bechdel Test | Pass |
| Page Turner | No |
REVIEW
I highly recommend From Scratch. It did take me a time or two of picking it up and putting it down in a couple of different formats, but I ultimately read the ebook and loved it. I have gone on to recommend it to several friends. Always with the warning though, that it is a raw, beautiful tear-jerker.
If you pick this book up thinking it will be full of recipes and their stories, a la Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci, you may be a bit disappointed or confused, as I initially was. This is a story about love, grief, culture, and healing. Food is an ever-present, supporting character throughout, but not the main story.
If you’re curious how the book compares to the show, I read From Scratch before watching the Netflix series, and I have to say—the book is far better. While the show has emotional moments, especially in the final two episodes, the memoir delivers a deeper emotional resonance early on. With the book, the first few chapters are tear-jerkers as the author draws you in with her honest, lyrical storytelling.
The series takes noticeable creative liberties. While it captures the general arc of Locke’s journey, much has been altered or simplified for the on-screen drama. Florence, for instance, is portrayed beautifully but with a glossy, Hollywood filter that doesn’t quite match the subtler, more grounded version described in the book.
As you read the book, you may wonder, like I did: Where are the recipes? The book closes with a beautiful touch: several recipes that tie Locke’s emotional journey to her love of food. I had to check out a hard copy to take a closer look. The recipes are absent in the show, which offers only light commentary on ingredients, like a note not to chill tomatoes, but little depth when it comes to cooking.
Another thing that stood out to me in the series was a line about using parsley stems “because they’re closer to the earth.” I don’t recall this from the memoir, but interestingly, I recently saw the same practice in an authentic Tuscan recipe. It’s a lovely detail.
If you’re drawn to heartfelt stories of love, loss, and healing—and especially if you appreciate the power of food in storytelling—read the book. The series has its place, but the memoir is where the real story lives.
BOOK CLUB RESOURCES
BCR RECOMMENDATION
From Scratch is a beautifully written memoir that explores love, grief, culture, and healing—but it’s not a light or casual read. I find myself torn: part of me wishes I had read it with my book club to process it together, but I’m also a little glad I experienced it privately. It’s that emotionally intense.
This could be a good pick for some book clubs. Especially for those who don’t meet monthly, and allow members more time to read at their own pace. If your group meets every month, I’d suggest placing this book between two lighter, perhaps fictional, selections to balance the emotional weight.
One important note: if From Scratch is your current pick, please don’t substitute the Netflix series if you didn’t finish the book. As mentioned in my review, the show makes many changes and can’t replace the depth of the memoir. Watching the series instead of reading could make for a confusing—and possibly frustrating—discussion. If you want to watch it, save the series until after your book discussion.
That said, if your group is open to thoughtful, heartfelt storytelling with room for deeper conversation, From Scratch could be a powerful and rewarding choice.
BOOK DISCUSSION
If your book club is reading From Scratch, head to the publisher’s website, where you will find a thorough reading group guide. The publisher’s Reading Group Guide also includes tips for enhancing your book club meeting about this book, as well as an interview with the author.
If you’re in a pinch to prep for leading your club discussion, the BCR General Book Discussion Guide has great discussion prompts as well.
WHAT TO READ NEXT
If you or your book club read From Scratch, we recommend reading something lighter and more casual next, such as:
- Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- The Guncle by Steven Rowley
- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave